perties of this queen of the parterre. He also adverts to its emblematical, metaphorical, and mythological cha

properties with which fable has endowed it, both in the allusions of romance and the consecrations of poetry. It must, however, be admitted, that more amusement than real instruction is to be found in this volume; but the amusement is innocent; and from the numerous passages of poetry scattered throughout its pages, many valuable and pleasing sentiments may be transplanted into the mind.

Without subscribing to the sterling accuracy of every expression in this volume, or even in the paragraph just quoted, we feel no hesitation in assert-racter; enumerates various imaginary ing, that their general validity and truth need only be seen to be admired. From trivial errors, no merely human composition was ever free; but on the present occasion, the imperfections of this volume bear scarcely any proportion to its intrinsic worth. The author's propositions are by no means difficult to be understood, and that reader who makes himself acquainted with what this book contains, will be no contemptible philosopher; and what is of infinitely more moment, he will be led through all his inquiries, to carry bis ultimate researches up to God, and to rely for salvation on the divine mercy as it is revealed in the holy scriptures.

So much useful information being compressed in this work, the common plea, founded on a want of time and opportunity for reading, which furnishes laziness with a plausible refuge, cannot now be urged. The price is only eight shillings, and he that cannot find time to peruse 525 pages, in which so much is to be learnt, deserves to suffer from the ignorance which he will not make a trifling effort to remove.

REVIEW.-Memoirs of the Rose, comprising Botanical, Poetical, and Miscellaneous Recollections of that celebrated Flower. 12mo. pp. 189. London. Westley. 1824.

WHEN this volume first reached our hands, we were led to conclude, from a hasty glance on one of its pages, that it contained nothing more than a gaudy bouquet, made up to please the fancy of the frivolous and the giddy. It has, however, lately undergone a fair examination, and we are glad to find that it has fragrance as well as colour. We do not mean to insinuate, that the author has extracted the otto of this celebrated flower, but he has taught us how to make it, has placed the rose in many pleasing lights, and given to his readers a comprehensive survey of the high estimation in which it has been held in all ages, and among various nations.

In a series of letters to a young lady, the writer notices the antiquity, varieties, modes of cultivation, and pro

From the garden, the author sometimes takes us to the distillery, sprinkles us with rose-water, and regales our senses with perfumes. To make the celebrated Otto, or Ottar, of roses, he gives the following direction :

"Take a very large glazed earthen or stone jar, or a large clean wooden cask; fill it with the leaves of the flowers of roses, very well picked, and freed from all seeds and stalks; Pour on them as much pure spring water as will cover them, and set the vessel in the sun, in the morning at sunrise, and let it stand till the evening, then take it into the house for the night; expose it in this manner for six or seven successive days, and at the end of the third or fourth day, a number of particles of a fine yellow oily matter, will float on the surface, which in two or three days more, will gather into a scum, which is the ottar of roses. This is taken up by some cotton, tied to the end of a piece of stick, and squeezed with the finger and thumb into a small phial, which must be immediately well stopped; and this is repeated for some successive evenings, or while any of this fine essential oil rises to the

surface of the water.-It is said that an bun-
dred pounds weight of roses will not yield
above half an ounce of this precious aroma.'
p. 33 and 34.

In a subsequent page, a pleasing tale from the German is introduced; but it is too long to be transplanted. We must now quit this literary nosegay, having no doubt that it will be admired by the ladies, and enjoy prosperity among a swarm of bees.

REVIEW.-Transactions of the Cymmrodorion, or Metropolitan Cambrian

Institution. 8vo. Part I. and II. pp. 423. London. William. 1822-1825. PERHAPS no department of our national literature has been more generally and deservedly encouraged, than that which takes cognizance of the local manners, customs, and traditions, existing in various parts of the island. There is, however, a lamenta

66

country during the period which immediately followed the celebrated "Glyndwr's abortive attempt to regain the liberties of his country."

ble exception to be made here, as far | faithful picture of the condition of that as respects those traits of nationality observable among the inhabitants of the principality of Wales; and which have given to them a character peculiarly their own. While the pen of Scott, like the potent wand of a magi- during this unhappy period, afforded ample "The disordered state of the Principality, cian, has rescued from oblivion the opportunity for the commission of illegal desuperstitions of his native land, and predations; and soe bloody and ireful were given to the fast fleeting shadows of quarrells in those days,' says the venerable past ages a local habitation and a bistorian of Gwedir, and the revenge of the name;" and the muse of Moore, and sword of such liberties, as almost nothing was punished by law, whatsoever happened.' We still more powerful political causes, must not be surprised, therefore, at the existhave mutually contributed to give ence of the numerous outlaws with which publicity to the legends and traditions Wales was then infested; nor must we marvel of Ireland, and have made the most that they gained their subsistence by robbery romantic portions of its history per- objects of their prey, the English who dwelt on and rapine, selecting, for the most part, as the fectly familiar to us; the literary trea- the confines of their country. These outlaws sures of another division of our island, or brigands were generally the descendants of separated from us only by the streams petty chieftains, commanding vassals devotedly of the "princely Severn," have exattached to their leader, and inheriting that perienced a most unaccountable neg- deadly hatred towards the English, which had lect. Those treasures, being locked They were by no means fastidious as to the so conspicuously signalized their ancestors. up in the depths of an unknown tongue, manner in which they attacked, or otherwise sufficiently account for the general ig-barassed, their foes; and, from their intimate norance of the English respecting them; knowledge of the mountain passes, they proved but this will by no means excuse the a source of no trifling annoyance to their neighapathy which has for so long a period the folly of pursuing their tormentors beyond bours for experience had taught the English existed on the part of those, who, the line of demarcation; and they very rarely being natives of the principality, we succeeded in capturing them on their own may naturally suppose are acquaint- ground; but, when such a circumstance did ed with its language, and who ought, occur, certain and immediate death was the therefore, to have, ere this, exerted consequence to the aggressor. themselves to remove this stigma. By the work before us, we perceive they are about to do so at last, and we sincerely hope they will meet with that encouragement which they so well deserve. They have an ample field before them; let them cultivate it well, and we doubt not that the harvest will be such as to confer additional honour upon the country of Aneurin and Taliesin!

The principal contents of the present" Transactions," consist of poems (in Welsh) and essays on historical, topographical, and literary subjects. There is also "An Outline of the Characteristics of the Welsh, and its Utility, in connexion with other ancient Languages, for developing the Primitive Speech of Mankind?" This article, we perceive, is a contribution by the learned author of the Welsh and English dictionary, Dr. O. Pughe, and well deserves the attention of the philological student.

The following extract from an "Essay on the State of Wales, from the Conquest in 1284 to the Union in 1535," presents us with, we believe, a too

seen.

"One of the most celebrated, as well as most daring of these marauders, was Reinallt ab Meredydd ab Grufydd, who resided in the neighbourhood of Mold, in Flintshire, at a strong hold called Tower, a castellated building of great strength, part of which is yet to be teenth century, exercising undisputed authority Here, then, lived Reinallt, in the fifover his little clan, by whose willing assistance he continued to molest and plunder all who were obnoxious to him. The principal objects of his attention, in this respect, were the inhabitants of Chester, with whom he was continually involved in dispute: nay, a regular system of warfare is said to have been carried on between the two parties, and many a dire and deadly conflict was the consequence. In 1465, a considerable number of the tradespeople of Chester repaired to Mold fair, to dispose of their commodities. This was an opportunity not to be resisted by the unconscionable freebooter; and he determined to revenge former grievances by enriching himself at the expense of the good men of Chester.' He assembled his followers, therefore, and hastening to the town, a quarrel was soon generated, and a contest ensued, in which, after several lives were lost on both sides, Reinallt gained the victory. This was yet farther enhanced by the capture of Robert Browne, or Bryne, the mayor of Chester, who had led on his fellow-citizens, and had attended the fair for purposes connected with his trade, which was that of a draper. Browne was an inveterate enemy of Reinallt, and his life paid the for

feit of his temerity, in venturing too near the haunts of the outlaw, He was hurried up to Tower, after the action, and hanged, without ceremony, on an iron staple, fixed to the ceiling of the great hall.

lose his gratuity, and if he act indecently, or in any way improperly, either to a married or single woman, in any place where he may be, he shall suffer fine and imprisonment for his bad conduct, and be deprived of his circuit fees for the succeeding seven years.

"Likewise, that they should not learn lampoons, or slanderous rhymes, or any thing of the kind; nor mock, nor deride, nor detract, nor pry into other persons' affairs, nor plunder, nor invent untruths, nor tell them after others, on pain of fine and imprisonment.

Browne's fellow-townsmen attempted, a short time afterwards, to avenge his death by "Likewise, that they should not go to alethe seizure of Reinallt, and his principal ac- houses, or places of secret resort, nor play complices in the murder, on whom they doubt-with dice or cards, or any other game, for gain; less intended to inflict the same summary and should they do so, that it is incumbent on mode of punishment. For this purpose, there- every one to take from them all they have in fore, two hundred stout and active men left their purses. Chester, and proceeded forthwith to Tower. But the wily freebooter gained timely notice of their approach, and quitting his house, retired with his men to a neighbouring wood, where he remained, to watch the operations of his visitors, who, as he bad anticipated, rushed eagerly into the house. No sooner had they entered, than Reinallt hastened from his ambush, surrounded Tower with his men, and set fire to it, cutting down the Chester men as they hurried out, without mercy or remorse. Few escaped to relate the fate of their comrades, and the outlaw of Mold received no further molestation from the intimidated inhabitants of Chester. Notwithstanding bis unjustifiable contempt of the laws, and his numerous atrocities, Reinallt procured a pardon from Thomas Lord Stanley, president of the council of Wales, which was subsequently ratified under the great seal of Edward the Fourth. And he died, as many other rogues have died, at a good old age, and, no doubt, grievously lamented by his lawless but faithful followers."-page 79.

A translation of Dr. Rhys's "Constitutions and Ordinances, anciently prescribed to be observed by the Bards and Minstrels," is replete with information on the state of these orders under the government of their native princes. It furnishes matter of the utmost importance towards the illustration of the literary and poetical history of this country, and shews us, that though much has been done by Warton, Percy, and other enterprizing antiquarians, much yet remains for their successors to do. We had marked several parts of this article, for the purpose of presenting them to our readers, but find we must content ourselves with the following extract, highly illustrative of the semi-barbarous state of society during those turbulent eras to which it refers:

Among many other regulations for the proper conduct of the minstrels,→ "It was ordered, that no one should go, during a wake, from the house to which he came first, so long as the banquet continued there, without leave of his host, or by invitation from another, on pain of losing his circuit fees. And should he go from house to house, he is to be taken up as a vagabond, his circuit fees taken from him, and consigned to the watchful care of the church. And, should he become intoxicated at the banquet, he is to

Likewise, that they should not cause contentions, or broils, or fraud, or robbery, or way-laying; nor keep company with thieves, or with any others who act criminally, on pain of fine and imprisonment. For bards are to be of friendly conversation, peaceable, obliging, humble, and fond of doing good offices: and all who are true subjects to the king, and bis magistrates, should countenance and patronize the bards."--page 289.

The two extracts which we have made above, will give our readers some idea of the work before us, though, it must be confessed, but a very imperfect one. The interesting nature of its contents will, we are sure, recommend it to all who take any pleasure in observing the state of the human mind, under all its endless changes, or in tracing to their sources those streams of learning which have, in the present day, deluged the land. Among other papers which the present volumes contain, are essays on "The Harp,"-" On Welsh Music,"-" On Welsh Congresses," -"On the Improvement of the Britons under the Influence of the Romans," " On Welsh Pedigrees, and their Utility," &c. &c. From the last, it was our full intention (had our limits permitted) to have extracted some of the ingenious and cogent reasons produced by the author, in order to account for the attachment of the Cambrian to a practice, which has subjected him, from time immemorial, to the laugh and jeer of his neighbours, and furnishes the traveller among his

"Rude romantic shades and woods, with some of his happiest anecdotes. Hanging walks, and falling floods,"

But, for additional information on Welsh peculiarities, we must refer the reader to the work itself, in which the literary antiquarian, who delights to become familiar with the manners and customs of other days, will find a rich repast.

REVIEW.-A Letter to the Rev. Dr. Milner, occasioned by some Passages contained in his Book, entitled, "The End of Religious Controversy." By the late Rev. S. Parr, LL.D. 8vo. pp. 60. Mawman.

THAT this important letter, written six years ago, upon a pressing occasion, should not have been published in the life-time of the learned author, is very unaccountable. It appears, that his original design was to have communicated the substance to the Gentleman's Magazine; but that, afterthoughts enlarged its dimensions, and induced him to resolve upon a separate publication. On some account or other, though three different copies of it were prepared, the letter never went to press till it came into the hands of the doctor's grandson, who now sends it into the world, pursuant to the last will and commands of his deceased venerable relative.

The lapse of time, however, has not taken from the interest of the performance; and we hail it, at the present moment, with peculiar pleasure, as a seasonable exposure of the fraudulent artifices of the Romish faction. But, waving any farther preliminary reflection, we shall procced to the history of this valuable tract.

In 1818, Dr. John Milner,(not Joseph, as he is here erroneously named,) one of the four vicars apostolic, as they are called, with the barbarous title of bishop of Castabella, printed a ponderous work, in answer to a pamphlet by the present bishop of Salisbury, then of St. David's. The whole drift of the furious polemic, in this ponderous mass of venom, was to blacken the characters of the reformers in general, without a single exception; and to hold up some of the most zealous of our modern divines, as a pack of knaves, fools, or apostates. Thus, "Luther was the sport of unbridled passion, pride, resentment, and lust;" Cranmer, "from his youthful life till his death at the stake, exhibited a continued scene of libertinism, perjury, hypocrisy, barbarity, profligacy, ingratitude, and rebellion;" Melancthon, "lamented that the Protestants had renounced the pope;" and Beza "negotiated to return to the Church of Rome." The amiable and pious Mede is called" a blasphemer ;" Chillingworth is represented as being

and lastly a Socinian;" while bishop "first a Protestant, next a Catholic, Jewell is designated as "a vain boaster, thers." Such are the rhetorical flowers a hypocrite, and a falsifier of the fawhich the modern Bolsac has thought proper to throw over the graves of the illustrious dead, who were the ornaments of former days.

But not content with venting his malice upon these eminent characters, merely because they were vigorous opponents of the usurpations of popery in their day; this wholesale calumniator ventured to hazard some very daring statements, respecting two modern divines, of the first rank in literature and the church, one dead, and the other living. Of the late Dr. Samuel Hallifax, who died bishop of St. Asaph in the year 1790, Dr. Milner expressly says, that he became a dastardly apostate in his last moments. This horrible story is told three times in the course of the work, and at each repetition with some additional colouring. The principal version of the tale is contained in the following note:"The present writer has been informed, on good authority, that one of the bishops, whose calumnies are here quoted, when he found himself on his death-bed, refused the proffered ministry of the primate, and expressed a great wish to die a Catholic. When urged to satisfy his conscience, he exclaimed, What then will become of my lady and my children?""

Shocked at this piece of scandal, and tender for the reputation of a man, whose virtues and learning he ad mired, Dr. Parr, on reading the account, sat down to remonstrate with the narrator, and to demand from him some unequivocal proofs of his bold assertion.

"In what genuine work which bears the name of Hallifax," says the doctor, "or in what respectable publication, which professes to give a fair and well-founded account of his faith and practice, do you trace even the slightest vestiges of the thoughts and the words which you have ascribed to him? Reflect, I beseech you, upon the excruciating and peril. ous situation in which Dr. Hallifax must have been placed, if your narrative, Sir, be wellfounded, at that moment, when hypocrisy, as Dr. Young says, drops the mask, and real and apparent are the same.' He, from want of conviction, could not find consolation in the Church of England, and, from want of fortitude, he did not seek it in the Church of Rome. In a man so accustomed, as bishop Hallifax was, to the study of theology, such a change